Olney’s Latest: Abreu, Manny, Torre
Buster Olney has a new video up, discussing some of the bigger issues in the MLB world right now:
- One GM thinks Bobby Abreu may have to settle for a one-year, $7MM deal. Quite the dropoff from the initial three years, $48MM he was asking for to begin the season.
- If the Mets sign a cheaper alternative to Oliver Perez, they may consider making an offer to Abreu.
- Olney isn’t sure if the Giants are in on Manny Ramirez, or just trying to drive up the price for the Dodgers. He says that the Giants won’t bring on Manny unless he "fits" offensively, defensively, and contractually. It’s hard to imagine Manny’s bat not fitting in any MLB lineup, but his glove and contract could be another story.
- Olney wonders if the recent controversy surrounding Joe Torre’s book will affect his relationship with Dodger players.
Abreu Still Waiting
Tyler Kepner of The New York Times reports that Bobby Abreu‘s former general manager Ed Wade believes that Abreu could still be an impact player this coming season:
"He’s still an All-Star-caliber player,” said Wade, now the general manager of the Houston Astros. “He’s probably not the guy that stirs the drink, but if you have the ability to add Bobby Abreu to your lineup and your clubhouse, it’s going to make all the players around him better.”
Abreu, 34, who made about $16MM with the Yankees in 2008, hit .296/.371/.471 in 684 plate appearances last season.
The Mariners, Giants, Dodgers, Reds and Braves could still get in on Abreu. Though Abreu had originally sought three-year contract, agent Peter Greenberg has confirmed that the slugger would be open to a one-year deal.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Saturday
According to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, the Giants are still talking to Manny Ramirez. Giants president Larry Baer said "we’ve got interest. But it’s one of those things where it’s got to fit."
Some executives say the Giants want to prevent the Dodgers from getting Manny on a one year deal, but aren’t about to start a bidding war. If they end up with a Hall of Fame player for a year because of it, they’d be happy.
As one executive said, few teams have enough money remaining to sign Ramirez, so the Dodgers could conceivably offer $30MM over two years and still make the highest bid.
Ethier’s Arbitration Hearing Date Is Set
Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Andre Ethier‘s arbitration hearing is scheduled for February 17.
As Jackson writes, "that should give the sides plenty of time to reach an agreement and avoid a hearing, but you never know." Ethier and his representatives have asked for $3.75MM, while the Dodgers submitted a $2.65MM bid. He is the team’s only pending arbitration case.
Wolf, Dodgers Resume Talks
According to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, the Dodgers resumed contract talks with Randy Wolf. He’s thought to be asking for a deal similar to Jon Garland‘s ($7-9MM). While Wolf is the Dodgers’ first choice, he’s expected to wait until the Mets reach a resolution with Oliver Perez. So once again, we’re waiting on the notoriously patient Scott Boras.
Gurnick says the Dodgers also spoke to Braden Looper‘s agent today; he’s their backup plan.
D’Backs Sign Jon Garland
THURSDAY: The D’Backs’ signing of Garland is official; he was introduced today.
WEDNESDAY, 2:52pm: More details from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick: Garland gets $6.25MM in ’09 and the 2010 option for $10MM has a $2.5MM buyout if the D’Backs reject it. If Garland rejects it it’s a $1MM buyout. Bottom line: if he doesn’t return in 2010, he’ll have made either $7.25MM or $8.75MM for ’09.
1:49pm: Different take from Ken Rosenthal; he says Garland is guaranteed more than $8.5MM in total. Heyman figures Arizona’s Garland signing makes the Dodgers the "heavy favorite" for Randy Wolf.
1:11pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman has contract details. Garland will earn $6.25MM in ’09, with his ’10 buyout pushing the guaranteed money to about $7MM. The 2010 mutual option is for about $10MM.
10:41am: According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks agreed to terms with starter Jon Garland on a one-year deal with an option (likely mutual) for 2010. Garland’s guaranteed money is believed to be in the $6-8MM range. The Diamondbacks probably could’ve re-signed Randy Johnson for a similar amount; did they make the right decision?
Garland’s early December choice to decline the Angels’ offer of arbitration turned out to be a mistake. The Angels will receive a supplemental draft pick for their loss.
The move uses up the D’Backs’ remaining payroll room, presumably taking them out of the mix for free agents such as Pedro Martinez and Braden Looper.
Stark On Greinke, Manny, Dunn, Swisher
The latest from ESPN’s Jayson Stark…
- The Cubs’ ownership situation is not close to the finish line, which is one reason the team won’t be acquiring Jake Peavy anytime soon.
- One source of Stark’s suggested Zack Greinke nearly left his current agent John Courtright of SFX for Scott Boras, a whisper I’d heard as well. But now Greinke is happy with his contract and agent.
- Free agents such as Manny Ramirez and Ivan Rodriguez could reasonably wait until March to sign. Not a bad thing for this website!
- Adam Dunn would like Manny to sign earlier, as he’s waiting to see what the Dodgers (his preferred team) do. The Nationals have been Dunn’s most aggressive suitor, the Orioles have mild interest, and the Braves have backed off.
- Stark questions the idea of talks for Manny heating up lately, since the Mets, Yankees, and Angels are out and the Giants are only conditionally interested.
- When Alex Rodriguez was a free agent last winter, Joe Torre advised the Dodgers against signing him.
- The Phillies would like to move Geoff Jenkins for a right-handed hitting outfielder, but Jenkins is paid too much. Jay Payton and Emil Brown are not on the Phillies’ radar; they still like Nomar Garciaparra.
- The Yankees are apparently "softening to the idea of trading Nick Swisher," with the Braves the top suitor.
Rosenthal On Abreu, Garland, Glavine, Sisco
The latest from Ken Rosenthal…
- The Mariners and Giants are interested in Bobby Abreu, if the price is right. Yesterday Buster Olney suggested that Abreu is willing to take a one-year deal. The A’s and Nationals have other targets, while the Mets, White Sox, and Braves are seen as long shots.
- Rosenthal examines the nuances of Jon Garland‘s December 7th decision to reject arbitration, saying that it wasn’t an obvious mistake at the time.
- Tom Glavine‘s agent Gregg Clifton did not attend yesterday’s meeting with Frank Wren; it was a health update and not a contract negotiation. Rosenthal says Glavine figures to seek a Freddy Garcia-like deal. The Braves need to save money to add an outfielder, with Nick Swisher atop their list. The Yankees’ goal in moving Swisher or Xavier Nady would be to recoup prospects.
- The Brewers are not interested in projects such as Kris Benson, Jason Jennings, Mark Redman, and Victor Zambrano. They’re just lukewarm on Mark Mulder. Benson is drawing interest from the Dodgers, Rangers, and Cardinals; one exec reviewed his audition as "so-so."
- Rosenthal doesn’t seem to buy the idea that Jason Varitek and Scott Boras feared the Red Sox could cut him if he accepted arbitration, noting that Boras client Travis Lee was advised to accept years ago.
- The Braves have reservations about re-signing Andruw Jones, who could be a Spring Training cut.
- The A’s deal for Russ Springer will be worth more than $3MM plus incentives. They’re also eyeing Brian Shouse and Andrew Sisco as possible pen additions. Sisco, recovering from Tommy John, has also auditioned for the Rockies and Giants.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Wednesday
11:39pm: Dylan Hernandez and Ken Gurnick talked to Ned Colletti tonight about Manny, but there’s not much new to report.
3:50pm: Not sure where the rumor started, but you can cross the Cardinals off the list for Manny suitors.
8:39am: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times talked to Scott Boras, who anticipates that his client Manny Ramirez will be signed by Spring Training (February 14th). Boras claims the Manny negotiations are taking shape and progressing and "the train has left the station." Of course, we all recall Kevin Towers saying the same thing about a Jake Peavy trade.
Boras acknowledged that he’s still talking with the Dodgers and (of course) implied that he has more than one additional suitor.
In other Manny news, Mets manager Jerry Manuel said he’d like to add the slugger (despite the team’s lack of interest).
Randy Wolf Rumors: Wednesday
11:36pm: MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick believes the Dodgers and Wolf "will remain apart until the Mets sign a pitcher," perhaps because the Mets have more money to spend than the Dodgers. Braden Looper is the Dodgers’ fallback plan.
4:42pm: Ken Rosenthal addresses Randy Wolf‘s situation now that Jon Garland is no longer an option for the Mets and Dodgers.
Wolf’s agents are still talking to both teams; the Mets are currently focused on Oliver Perez though. The Mets are also talking to Ben Sheets‘ agent. One Rosenthal source said the Mets "could sign Wolf quickly if they made him a pre-emptive offer." That won’t happen unless Perez is ruled out.
Rosenthal says the Dodgers "reassessed their positions with Wolf and Garland after the Yankees re-signed free-agent lefty Andy Pettitte for $5.5 million with the chance to earn $6.5 million in incentives." We’re left to read between the lines; does it mean the Dodgers are now offering less to Wolf?